The organist librarian

Could not get to cathedral Lent group - morning spent cleaning and afernoon reading. To 5.30 Mass too late to serve. Boys sang Goller Mass, Handel Wash me throughly and Wesley Lead me Lord - lovely. Fr Alexander. Coffee latte at Starbucks. To cathedral hall for Faith matters lecture by Professor John Morrell of Cambridge. Met Ausra Liz's new tutor and Fr Dominic introduced me to the speaker. Interesting insight into Catholic history and how many priests survived Elizabethan persecution! Some interesting questions too. Tube and 266 bus to Acton and watching Big fat gypsy wedding and Richard Dimbleby lecture. Wednesday took Ciarán and Louise to music in car but he was not bothered at all so gave up. After a nice chicken wrap we drove home and he slept. It did not take him long to find the Thomas DVD, books and track and later he played in the house in the garden and had a lovely bath. He loved his new Thomas blowup bed! More reading and Liz watching One born every minute. Going to Al...

After a busy day yesterday hardly surprising that we slept in. I woke at 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. and rose just after 9.15. I thought Liz had agreed to serve at a funeral at the cathedral at 11.30 a.m. in fact it was 10.30 a.m. so dash to station and she just got there as it was starting - Michael Chute was there so that was O.K. Hoovered and cleaned kitchen floor and tidied up as Mr C is coming tomorrow! Vickie says Jo wants to take children's practice on Sunday - I have given her the details but it feels even more like a takeover bid and I wonder what the kids will say? 

To swimming 30. Mosaic and the ceramic flowers have been fired and look great. New people at tai chi. To library and saw Zia and Jim  - it is closing for a fortnight to be redecorated. To Heythrop library and set up the first chaplaincy interfaith sharing meeting - delighted that 20 came including the new principal! The ecumenical prayer was cancelled so they could come. 4 from my class - Luke had been at Saturday night's Mass. Had dinner and chatted to Debby Miles-Johnston! Philip and Johannes too. To Moira's house for organists committee.

Problem with keyboard at start of Byrd 3 part Kyries so I had to sing the chord and we recovered. It worked for the Wood Sanctus and Agnus. Modern technology - I now have my pitch pipe on the organ console. We saw a Power point presentation about the stewardship campaign -  the Diocese more than half of the income and currently £267 short each week! We sang Lord for thy tender mercy's sake and the last hymn was "Through the night of doubt and sorrow". I played Bach and Franck and practised some Bach chorale preludes and Fantasias and fugues including some I not attempted before! Vicky was chatty and friendly so what is really going on is unknown! Sean did practise after service - he arrived late eating an apple! I have insisted he come at 9.20 and stay until the bell goes for Sunday school. Liz at rite of election at cathedral - 600 candidates over 2 days for the diocese! Listened to choral evensong from Hereford - superb Allegri Miserere with soaring top Cs and Byrd. The...

To Kew Gardens to serve at requiem for Liza - she was my age. All went well. Fr Stephen gave an amusing and fine homily. He told how she said she screamed top notes and low ones she farted! He also quoted Buddha! He said she sent him CDs for his posting to Iraq for 9 months so reckon he is in the forces. Her cousin Luke Connell served but needed lots of guidance. We heard Panis angelicus recorded by Liza 3 weeks ago - she was so brave! A lovely Ave Maria, superb Samoan funeral song and Meryl Rose sang "May the choirs of angels". Stephen Rose played superbly - she came in to Nimrod and out to "Wish me luck". Great hymns Dear Lord and Father and Thine be the glory. To her lovely home and we drank a champagne toast in sunshine in her lovely garden. A most interesting chat to her cousin about South Africa. The present generation are still in the liberation mode and creating the equivalent of the big companies like Sasol for their pals. It is the next generation who will...

Too much to read so did not go to lent group at Virgo Fidelis. Liz went to Glyn Close as new bed came. To cathedral for first part of mass - Palestrina and Tallis Salvator mundi. Excellent homily on fasting from Fr Christopher. Picked up shoes for funeral as Liz got robes on Thursday but forgot them. Choir OK. 2 youths walked behind hall but by the time John came and we went back to look they had gone. Jo Richards had been received warmly last Sunday and will take practice on March 2nd. It is all looking a bit fishy like it's a setup. However let's hope All Saints comes up trumps as it is so near home! Rehearsed evensong and Tony Trent there. Watched QI.

Swam 30. Liz to take baby seat for Gemma and to see Fr Archer. To interfaith lunch and a good turnout. Jon Dal Din was there. To Heythrop and 6 at dinner time. An interesting seminar from Anton on the "Muslim gospel" and pluralism from Damian. I got his new book from the library. Home to watch Catholics part 1 about Allen Hall - very well done. University challenge was close. Voces 8 on Songs of Praise.